Monday, October 29, 2007

I finally understand what it is I do. I have a final conclusion as to what my role in this world is going to be. And all it took was a well placed piece of graffiti to remind me.

There are many variations of this quote, but the idea is the same. "In a time of universal deciet, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." It's strange that I've read Orwell so often and haven't really taken this quote in. It puts to rest all of my problems with the conflicts between activism and journalism. I am a journalist, and this is my creed.

Here we are again at the end of our week. It's been a hectic but otherwise rewarding week. I went on what I believe is my most fruitful event yet. Here are a few photos os the events throughout the week. I'll be posting a sort of prose description of my experiences later.

But first, here's a photo of Mr. Greg Green, and a couple of womens volleyball.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

I'll be uploading one or two pictures from my excursion to San Fransisco to cover a large anti-war protest. I need to be up and awake in 5 hours. I'm simply waiting for my battery to charge so I can pack up my camera and stuff.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

I'm going to need some help, from the 4 or so people who look at this blog.

First, a description:

Before cars, trains, and planes, there was only a local environment. Nomadic tribes moved from place to place following their game. These tribes had intimate knowledge of their environment. Future established tribes knew their local environment even more deeply. As time progressed, civilisation sprang up and soon there was exploration on the seas. And then there was the New World. And that was settled, then explored. It then seemed there was nowhere to go, but man looked to the sky. But it seems that the more outward we expand, the more we forget our closest environments. As of today most of the population is only aware of a vague world geography and an even more incomplete understanding of local geography. Beneath the feet of city dwellers are vast unexplored regions of space. Passageways, tunnels, and hidden rooms in the walls. I aim to show people just how close they come to adventure every day of their lives.There will be a short essay preceeding the work to flush out these ideas. And it will certainly be written better.

QUESTION ONE

Name ideas are as followsThe First FrontierThe Primal FrontierThe Original FrontierThe Forgotten FrontierWhite On The Map

or any other idea you come up with.

QUESTION TWOShould I pair the images with a sattelite image of the place, daytime photos of the place, mapquest directions, or just simple descriptions

NOW THE NEWEST PHOTOSThese are works in progress I need to splash more light about the area to have it glow a little better.

This one needs light to come from within that tunnel in the background. I was just stupid and didn't go down in there. (Notice the fact that the bars are bent for people to get in, proving I'm not the first here.)

This one simply needs to explode with light from inside that grating. I have no idea how I'm going to do that. Woot for checking out equipment.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Here we are again. Another week another set of pictures. None of these made it into the paper, but I think they're pretty enough. I've come to respect Sean McDonald through my expirence with him. I advise you meet him before you decide what kind of person he is.

The second set of photos are in a photo gallery on the Sagebrush website with a lot of other pretty fall photos by other people Here.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an update on the Urban Exploration Project. It's taking an interesting turn. I'll have some writing up with it is anyone still reads these days.

Monday, October 22, 2007

[EDIT] I am going to the Answer Coalition protest against the war on Saturday. It should prove interesting and rewarding. Links coming your way in a bit.[EDIT]

I get to cover an activist event. At least I'm reasonably sure I do. I'll be travelling with a club here on campus to an anti-war protest taking place in San Fransisco on Saturday. Needless to say, this will be amazing. It's the story I've always wanted to cover. Hell, it could have been a pro-war rally for all I care. (except those are relatively small.)

I'll obviously be remaining nonpartisan, what with the being a part of the press and all. If I were to show partiality here, my credibility as a journalist will be tainted for the rest of my career. (a bit dramatic but somewhat true)

So I'm up and sitting in bed. Tuesdays are always pretty slow. I have class at four, and a meeting at eight. But for now I have free time. That's not true. What I have is time that I should use to do homework, but I won't. Instead, I'll blog.

So I think I'll start off with last night. The Sagebrush is a madhouse as always, but I wouldn't have her any other way. Well, the Sagebrush is sending me to Vegoose down in Vegas from the 26th to the 29th. The hugetastic music festival. It's kind of intimidating, we need pictures all the time and updates and the like. But I'd be able to go home and have a fantastic experience. So that's cool. Nevermind.

Also, I'm starting my final photo project. I'm doing it on urban exploration, the thing I made a few blogs about before. But it's not going to be simply images of abandoned houses and the like. Instead it's going to be an examination of the nature of exploration. The steps we've taken as a society in exploring our world. That kind of thing.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

This isn't because I was asked, or because I was told, but I am here to apologise for one of my recent posts. What I said was simply a rant. The things I said were true, but I said them in a way that was disrespectuful.

And I want to clear up that the Sagebrush isn't causing me to kind of go downhill. I'm in a bad state right now and I'm getting it taken care of.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

This has been one of my most trying weeks of recent memory. I've been shooting nonstop for a couple of days now. I'll post a picture from every assignment I've done just to prove my point when I get to actually fucking editing them.

Friday, October 5, 2007

I hurt myself todayTo see if I still feelI focus on the painThe only thing that's realThe needle tears a holeThe old familiar stingTry to kill it all awayBut I remember everything[Chorus:]What have I becomeMy sweetest friendEveryone I know goes awayIn the endAnd you could have it allMy empire of dirtI will let you downI will make you hurtI wear this crown of thornsUpon my liar's chairFull of broken thoughtsI can not repairBeneath the stains of timeThe feelings disappearYou are someone elseI am still right here[Chorus:]What have I becomeMy ssweetest friendEveryone I know goes awayIn the endAnd you could have it allMy empire of dirtI will let you downI will make you hurtIf I could start againA million miles awayI would keep myselfI would find a way

I honestly think that one day Mr. Bush will fit into this song. I have an overwhelming sense of Bush's humanity, more so than I should. He will feel remorese some day. And on that day I will show him compassion.

Monday, October 1, 2007

[edit]Apparently I wasn't clear. If the Nevada Sagebrush can take stances on political and civil rights issues, and they are in tune with my beliefs, why is it I can't further that in the real world? Why do I have to stand behind an editorial I didn't even write and have that be my only voice to the world?

Also, this post is not about wanting to be a part of the Young Democrats again. It's about being a strict Constitutionalist and finding this blatant disregard for rights appalling. It has nothing to do with politics or lofty ideals, and everything to do with laws and concrete facts.[edit]

I don't know how anyone does it. As a member of the press I must appear nonpartisan at all times. This is incredibly hard to do when all of my friends are actively trying to spread progressive ideas.

I don't understand how I am restricted from being a part of the Young Democrats or standing up for rights. But I'm also banned from reporting on it. Essentially my voice on the matter is being shut. I need someone to explain this to me.

I also don't understand how my newspaper can endorse politicians and legislation, but If I were to do so personally I would be reprimanded.

Anonymity is my savior. I am nonpartisan when I report. But on my own I feel I should be able to do what I feel is right.

Yes, I see the reason why I shouldn't. My actions reflect upon the institution. But can someone please tell me how to deal with the horrible sense of failure I get from not being able to participate or even report on political, or even civil rights cases?

What if I wanted to participate in the Day of Silence?What if I wanted my name on a petition to free the Jena Six?What if I wanted to save people from the horrors in Darfur?What if I wanted Same sex marriage legalized?What if I wanted to promote my candidate?What if I wanted to help with the democratic process of the Caucus?What if I wanted to march in an anti-war protest?What if I wanted to create ART that expressed my opinions?What if I was being discriminated against myself?What if my first amendment rights were at stake?Oh, wait ALL OF THAT IS FUCKING TRUE!